Apparatus for continuously gauging and cutting stone in a guillotine type cutting machine

ABSTRACT

Relatively large blocks of granite and other stone, weighing several tons or more, are conveyed into a guillotine type cutting machine and are quickly gauged and stopped in an aligned position to cutting chisels by means of a rigidly reinforced gauging stop mechanism. The gauging stop mechanism is uniquely combined with chisel adjusting mechanism of the guillotine machine so that very large bearing surfaces are provided for the stop mechanism to withstand heavy impact forces of a moving block. The gauging stop mechanism is movable downwardly into a gauging position for contacting an upper leading edge of a block of stone at points in front of the cutting chisels when the cutting chisels are raised. With the gauging mechanism in its lowered position, the cutting chisels are locked out of operation. The stop mechanism when moved upwardly releases the cutting chisels and simultaneously provide a cleared space into which cut-off sections of stone may be displaced forwardly of the cutting chisels without damage to the stop mechanism. The gauging stop mechanism further includes a set of detachable spacer plates of different sizes which are interchangeable to vary their spaced relationship to the upper set of cutting chisels.

United States Patent 51 a July 18, 1972 Fletcher et al.

[54] APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY GAUGING AND CUTTING STONE IN AGUILLOTINE TYPE CUTTING MACHINE [72] Inventors: Ralph A. Fletcher,Bedford, N.H.; 'Joseph R. Oliver, Lowell, Mass.

[73] Assignee: H. E. Fletcher Co., Westford, Mass.

[22] Filed: April 24, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 31,608

[52] US. Cl. ..l25/23C [51] ..B28d H22 [58] Field of Search ..125/23[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,919,801 7/1933 Newsom125/23 2,762,359 9/1956 Entz 125/23 2,768,620 10/1956 Jenkins... 125/233,424,144 l/l969 Giconi 125/23 2,867,205 l/l959 Vesper.... ..l25/23Primary Examiner-Harold D. Whitehead Attorney-Munroe l-l. HamiltonABSTRACT Relatively large blocks of granite and other stone, weighingseveral tons 'or more, are conveyed into a guillotine type cuttingmachine and are quickly gauged and stopped in an aligned position tocutting chisels by means of a rigidly reinforced gauging stop mechanism.The gauging stop mechanism is uniquely combined with chisel adjustingmechanism of the guillotine machine so that very large bearing surfacesare provided for the stop mechanism to withstand heavy impact forces ofa moving block. The gauging stop mechanism is movable downwardly into agauging position for contacting an upper leading edge of a block ofstone at points in front of the cutting chisels when the cutting chiselsare raised. With the gauging mechanism in its lowered position, thecutting chisels are locked out of operation. The stop mechanism whenmoved upwardly releases the cutting chisels and simultaneously provide acleared space into which cut-off sections of stone may be displacedforwardly of the cutting chisels without damage to the stop mechanism.The gauging stop mechanism further includes a set of detachable spacerplates of different sizes which are interchangeable to vary their spacedrelationship to the upper set of cutting chisels.

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APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY GAUGING AND CUTTING STONE IN A GUILLOTINETYPE CUTTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to apparatus for cutting mineral bodiessuch as granite and other classes of stone, and more especially, theinvention is concerned with methods and means for separating blocks ofgranite and the like into relatively smaller sections of desired sizes,utilizing a fluid pressure operated machine of the class commonlyreferred to as guillotine type machine.

The term guillotine type", as employed in this invention, refers to amachine in which two opposed sets of loading blocks, hereinafterreferred to as chisels, are simultaneously engaged with opposite sidesof a block of stone and forced toward each other under very large fluidpressures to provide separation along desired planes of cutting. Thechisels occurring in the opposed sets noted may have relatively sharpcutting edges or may have blunt or flat end faces.

One typical machine of the guillotine type referred to is the HydrasplitMachine manufactured and sold by the Park Tool Company of St. Cloud,Minn. In this machine, a pair of hydraulic rams or cylinders are mountedin vertical sides of a frame which straddles a roll conveyor forreceiving and advancing a block of granite to a desired cuttingposition. Upper and lower sets of chisels are disposed in the frame andextend transversely between the vertical sides. A frame extension at thefront of the machine supports spring and wedge elements movabletransversely into contact with individual chisels in the upper set toselectively adjust chisels to the contour of an upper side of the blockof granite. The hydraulic rams exert large pressures for cutting theblock along a desired line of severance.

ln utilizing a guillotine type machine to cut a large block of granitewhich may weigh several tons or more, and which is required to be movedalong a conveyor member, problems arise in gauging and stopping theblock. This is particularly so in a continuous production operation,such as the present invention may be specifically concerned with, wherea granite block is to be cut into smaller granite sections in relativelyrapid sequence in order to produce substantial quantities of curbing andother dimension stone.

In a continuous production operation of the type indicated, it isessential to quickly locate a block of granite in a precisely alignedcutting position each time a cutting operation is to be carried out. Itwill also be appreciated that relatively large granite blocks are notonly heavy, but cumbersome to move into a correctly aligned relationshipwith the sets of chisels in the guillotine machine, and gauging meanscapable of receiving and stopping such blocks during adjustment must beof extremely rugged construction. Heretofore, in the absence of suitablegauging means, substantial amounts of time and labor have been consumedin making the alignment for each cut and thus limitations have beenimposed on the output of the guillotine machine with undesirableincrease in production costs.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has been proposed in the art toprovide a method of gauging involving gauging means arranged along sideportions of a guillotine type machine. However, this prior art method ofgauging has not, for a number of reasons, proven to be satisfactory whendealing with blocks of granite or other stone of the relatively largesize and weight as indicated above. Impact forces of a large block ofgranite, even when moved at an extremely slow rate of speed, can veryrapidly displace and permanently damage gauging devices of the typeproposed in the art. A further condition involved is that the leadingside of the granite block must, at the time cutting takes place, becompletely free from contact with any gauging or holding means since thegranite section which is to be cut off separates suddenly under greatpressure with an abrupt displacement of the cut sections taking place atthe point where the chisels are fully pressurized. It will be apparentthat any gauging or holding abutment means, if in contact with orclosely adjacent to a section to be cut off, is necessarily subjected tovery heavy side thrust forces and damage or deformation of parts willtake place in a very short time.

Still another complicating factor is also present. At the discharge sideof the guillotine type machine, a multiple wedge and spring mechanism iscustomarily supported in closely spaced relationship so that each chiselin the upper set of chisels may be variably positioned to adjust to avarying contour of the upper side of a stone block to be split. Themultiple spring and wedge assembly is supported in closely spacedrelation on a frame extension. This imposes a considerable limitation onworking space for mounting a gauge mechanism of suitable ruggedness andadjustability to be of any value in a relatively rapid sequentialcutting of successive granite sections each of whose thicknesses must begauged to meet a standard of uniformity.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a chief object ofthe present invention to improve apparatus for gauging and cuttingblocks of granite and other stone in a guillotine type machine.

It is a further object of the invention to cope with the problems andlimiting factors outlined above and to provide an improved gauging andstopping arrangement, particularly suitable for carrying out relativelyrapid sequential cutting of dimension stone sections;

Another specific object is to provide apparatus for quickly gaugingportions of a relatively heavy block of stone in a guillotine typemachine to make possible a rapid sequential cutting operation whichproduces dimension stone pieces measured to meet a required standard ofuniformity in thickness and which requires no change in the design ofthe guillotine machine parts;

Still another object is to devise an adjustable gauging stop mechanismwhich is capable of being mounted at the discharge side of a guillotinetype machine and which is of suitably rugged construction to withstandrepeated impact by relatively heavy masses of granite or other stonemoving into a cutting position;

Still another object is to device a gauging stop mechanism of ruggedshock resistant nature in combination with novel adjustment controldevices for rapidly clearing the stop mechanism away from a gaugedsection of stone in preparation for a cutting action;

Still another object is to combine with gauging stop mechanism and stopadjusting means, a control system which is interlocked with theactuating control means of the guillotine machine so that no cuttingaction can occur until such time as the gauging stop mechanism has beenmoved into a cleared position.

With the foregoing objects in mind, we have conceived an apparatus forperiodically gauging portions of a block of stone moved along a conveyorinto a guillotine machine. Gauging is carried out in timed relationshipto movement of guillotine chisels to provide rapid sequential cutting ofgranite slabs whose thickness is controlled by the gauging operation ina highly precise manner.

Our improved apparatus is based upon the use of vertically adjustablestop members which are contained in special elongated bearing surfaces.The stop members are arranged in the bearing surfaces so as to bemovable into and out of the path of travel of the upper forward edge ofa block of stone conveyed through the guillotine machine. We havefurther devised an arrangement of parts for solidly securing the stopsin forwardly spaced relation to the upper set of cutting chisels in aposition such that forward motion of a heavy block of stone may bequickly arrested and momentum forces absorbed and distributed throughoutthe elongated bearing surfaces as the forward edge of the stone isbrought into alignment with the chisels.

In combination with these stop members and their elongated bearingsurfaces, we have further provided special stop adjustment meansincluding fluid pressure operated cylinders and link members locatedthrough spring and wedge components of the guillotine machine so as tolower and raise the gauging stops without interference with theconventional parts of the guillotine machine. We have also devised anadjustable stop assembly whose components may be convenientlyinterchanged to provide a range of gauging spaces extending forwardly ofthe upper set of chisels for varying the width of a section to be cutoff.

The nature of the invention and its other objects and novel featureswill be more fully understood and appreciated from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected forpurposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of aguillotine type machine as viewed from the entering side illustratingthe gauging stop mechanism of the invention in a gauging position withrespect to a block of stone. 1

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the discharge side of the guillotinetype machine showing further detailsof the gauging stop of the inventionin typical operative position of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the stopmechanism in a raised or cleared position to provide for a cuttingoperation being carried out.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the machine showing further detailsof the stop adjusting mechanism.

FIG. Sis a plan view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a detail plan view of a block of granite with the stopmechanism shown in spaced relation to a set of chisels.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view of the stop retainingbracket means of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a detail view of a switch arrangement.

FIG. 9 is a plan cross-sectional view of the machine broken away toindicate portions of the spring and wedge assembly for controlling theupper set of chisels with the adjustment devices of the invention showntherein.

FIG. 10 is a detail elevational view of an adjustable stop assembly.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view indicating a spacing relationshipaccomplished by a stop assembly such as shown in FIG. 10. 7

FIG. 12 is an assembly view illustrating different sizes of adjustablestops which may be employed.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the use of a single pair ofstops suitable for handling a relatively narrow block of stone, and

FIG. 14 is a wiring diagram illustrating control circuit means foroperating the stop mechanism in interlocking relationship with theactuating means for the guillotine chisels.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In accordancewith the invention, we provide a method of positioning heavy blocks ofgranite in which a pair of stop rod members are slidably supported alongelongated bearing surfaces which are spaced forwardly of the upper setof guillotine chisels and which extend upwardly away from an upperleading edge of a block of stone in the machine substantially at rightangles to the path of travel of the stone. We have found In carrying outour improved method of positioning a block with stop rods and elongatedbearing surfaces space limitations, earlier noted as imposed by springand wedge devices customarily used in guillotine machines, are avoidedby exerting forces from points above the springs and wedges indirections angularly downwardly and upwardly and between the springs andwedges. These forces are exerted through a pivoting link mechanism. atpoints below the springs and wedges the angularly directed forces aretranslated into vertical reciprocating motion of the stop rods in closeproximity to the chisels.

Considering in further detail the space limitations imposed when springand wedge devices for the guillotine chisels are utilized with otherconventional parts of a guillotine machine, attention is directed to thestructure shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 inelusive, in which arrow M denotes aguillotine machine of the general construction common to a HydrasplitMachine. As shown therein, the guillotine machine comprises verticallydisposed side portions 2 and 4 which have hydraulic rams containedtherein. Located between the side portions 2 and 4 is an upper framepart 6 and a lower frame part 8. Mounted for ver tical reciprocatingmovement in the upper housing part 6 is a set of loading blocks orchisels indicated by numeral 10. Also mounted in the lower. housing part8 is a second set of loading blocks or chisels indicated by the numeral12, and arranged in vertically spaced alignment with the chisels 10.

It will be understood that the fluid pressure operated rams located inthe side portions 2 and 4, although not shown in the drawings, are ofconventional type and are operative connected in a well-known manner tothe chisels 10 to provide for moving the chisels downwardly against ablock of stone located therebelow. The guillotine machine also includesa multiple roller conveyor for receiving and advancing a block of stoneB into a desired position relative to the chisels 10. As shown in FIGS.1, 2, 4 and 5, the conveyor may comprise a lead-in conveyor section C1and a second lead-out conveyor section C2. It will be noted that the twoconveyor sections are arranged in spaced relation to provide a smallopening through which the lower set of chisels 10 may be raised andlowered, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, three sets of rollers in each conveyor section maybe employed, and each conveyor section may be supported on suitablestand for locating the block of stone B at a suitable level foradvancing it between the upper and lower sets of chisels 10 and 12. Alsocustomary in guillotine machines of the type described is provision foradjustable spring and wedge means to selectively adjust the position ofindividual chisels of the upper set of chisels 10 in order to conformeach of the chisels to irregular stone contours at the upper side of ablock of stone to be cut. As illustrative of this well-known type ofspring and transversely movable wedge structure, there are shown in FIG.9, in partly broken away condition, a plurality of spring and wedgeassemblies as l6, 18, 20, etc., which are mounted for transverse slidingmovement in the forwardly projecting frame extension part 14, best shownin FIGS. 2, 4 and 9.

Power operating means in one arrangement common to the Hydrasplitmachine, earlier referred to, is comprised by an electric motor notshown in the drawings and which operates a piston pump. A flow of oil tothe several actuated parts is regulated by conventional solenoid valveswhich are controlled by means of usual limit switches and push-buttoncontacts. It will be appreciated that the switching means noted is underthe control of a machine operator who normally utilizes the switchesreferred to in order to actuate the conveyor means and advance a blockof stone into a desired position. Thereafter, the operator lowers thewedge-adjustable cutting elements against an irregular surface of ablock of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and at the same time raises thelower set of chisels so that the stone is held in a clamped position. Inthis position the hydraulic rams may then be operated to force the upperset of cutting elements downwardly and make a cut in the well-knownmanner. Other conventional details of construction and operation of aguillotine machine such as the I-Iydrasplit machine may be found invarious operating manuals supplied by the Park Tool Company noted above.

It will be apparent that in order for a satisfactory gauging operatingto be realized in machine M, gauging stop means are required to belocated below the frame extension 14 and in relatively close proximityto the upper set of chisels 10. It will also be apparent that thegauging stops must be mounted for vertical adjustment. To accommodatevertical adjustment there is extremely limited space, and almost nospace whatever for power actuating means to be located below the frameextension 14.

In accordance with the present invention, we have resolved this spacelimitation problem by devising a gauging stop arrangement which operatesfrom points both above and below the springs and wedges. In thisarrangement stop rods and elongated bearing sleeves are constructed toform an integral part of frame portion 6 and the adjacent frameextension 14. This permits taking advantage of the extremely ruggedconstruction of the upper frame portion 6 wherein the loading blocks orchisels 10 are solidly supported for transmitting very large fluidpressures.

Essentially our gauging mechanism includes spaced gauging stop elementsand rigidly reinforced elongated bearing means for supporting thegauging stop elements at the underside of the frame extension 14 and inclose proximity to the chisels 10. Actuating means for the stop rods areoperable from points above the frame extension to move the gauging stopelements into engagement with an upper leading edge of a block of stoneas it is moved along the conveyor. The gauging stop elements arepreferably employed in pairs and in the preferred embodiment shown inthe drawings, two pairs of gauging stops are illustrated.

As shown in detail in FIG. 4, we provideat points immediately below theframe extension 14 relatively heavy retaining brackets as 24 which arearranged in predetermined horizontally spaced apart relationship andwhich are rigidly secured to a front surface of the upper frame portion6 at points 60 and 6b by welding or other suitable means as is suggestedin FIG. 7. Solidly fastened to these brackets 24 are pairs of elongatedbearing sleeves also shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, and including an inner pairof denoted by numerals 26 and 28 and an outer pair denoted by numerals30 and 32 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

Slidably supported in the elongated bearing sleeves are two pairs ofelongated stop rods which include an inner pair of stop rods 34 and 36and an outer pair of stop rods 38 and 40. Detachably mounted at thelower extremities of these stop rods are gauging plate members 46, 48and 49 and 50. The gauging plates are secured in some suitable manner asby threaded fastenings 52, FIG. 10. The fastenings 52 are also threadedinto reduced ends of the rods as indicated at 54 in the case of rod 38of FIG. 10. Set screws as 56 may also be employed to prevent rotativemovement of the plates on their respective stop rods.

Each of the gauging plates is preferably formed with flat stone-engaginginserts 60 which may be made of carboloy or other material forwithstanding heavy usage in contacting stone surfaces. The gaugingplates may occur in varying sizes and FIG. 12 is intended to illustratetwo typical sizes including a pair of gauging plates 62 and 64 andanother pair of gauging plates 66 and 68 which are designed to be usedinterchangeably with their respective stop rod elements in providingvariable gauging spaces for a section of stone to be stopped and gauged.FIG. 11 illustrates a distance A occurring between the central axis ofthe gauging plate and a central axis of a chisel element 10. It will beapparent that this distance A is reduced by increasing the size of theplate 44 and thus the thickness of a stone section to be cut off may bedecreased. By varying plate sizes, varying thicknesses of stone may becut off.

' It will be observed that the arrangement of the brackets 24 is suchthat bearing sleeves and stop rods supported thereon are located inspaced relation-the under side of the frame extension 14 so that aclearance is provided for raising the stop rods and their respectivegauging plates upwardly well above the path of travel of a block and theupper chisels.

As one suitable means for raising and lowering the stop rods andtheirattached gauging plates, we provide at the upper side of the frameextension 14 fluid pressure operated cylinders as 70, 72, 74 and 76which occur in offset relation to the stop rods and which are pivotallymounted in brackets 78, 80, 82 and 84. Each of these fluid pressureoperated cylinders includes a piston and rod assembly of the usual typeand FIG. 4 illustrates one typical piston and rod assembly denoted bythe numeral 86. In accordance with the invention, lower extremities ofeach of these piston and rod assemblies are attached to pivoted linkswhich are arranged to extend angularly downwardly between adjacent wedgeelements as suggested in FIG. 9 and the lower extremity of each pistonand rod is pivotally connected to a respective stop rod as indicated inFIG. 7 and as denoted specifically by the piston rod 86 pinned at 88 tostop rod 38. It will be observed that each of these pistons rod elementsconstitute relatively thin flat bars which can pass between the wedgeand spring assemblies at the upper side of the frame extension and eachof the elongated sleeve members 30 are cut away as at 90 to provide foran angular displacement of the bars relative to the stop rods as therods are raised and lowered.

In carrying out the method of cutting blocks as above described, animportant consideration is to guard against the possibility ofaccidental operation of cutting chisels at a time when the gauging stopsare in a locked gauging position. As one desirable means of guardingagainst accidental operation of the machine in this way, we have furtherdevised special gauging stop control means which enables an operator tomove the gauging stops into a gauging position quickly and convenientlywhen a block is ready to be advanced into a gauging position. Animportant feature of this stop control means is provision forinterlocking the fluid pressure actuating system for the guillotinechisels with the operating circuit for the stop adjusting cylinders in amanner such that when the gauging stops are in a lowered gaugingposition, the actuating system for the chisels is automatically lockedout with the chisels in a raised position, and it is only by raising thegauging stops that the chisel operating system can be set in a positionto operate.

The details of this stop control means are illustrated in FIGS. I to 5,8 and 14, and as shown therein, we provide manually operable valves S1,S2 which are mounted at some convenient point on machine M as indicatedin FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. Valve S1 controls flow of fluid to stop actuatingcylinders 72 and 74, and valve S2 controls flow of fluid to cylinders 70and 76. Also provided on the stop rod link 86a is a projecting partwhich is arranged to move into contact with and operate switch 102. Asshown in the wiring diagram of FIG. 14, the projecting part is arrangedto open and close a circuit for operating the solenoid 104. Thissolenoid 104 is the control solenoid for opening and closing theguillotine actuating valve earlier referred to and suggesteddiagrammatically at 106.

In the arrangement described, the projecting part 100 is normally in aholding position against the switch 102 which provides a circuit throughwhich current may flow when independently energized by a machineoperator at a point where a chisel cut is desired to be made. When theprojecting part 100 is moved downwardly away from the switch 102, thiscircuit is opened and can no longer be independently energized until thepart 100 is returned to its holding position as described. As a resultof this control means, it will be apparent that the stop rods 38 and 40in a lowered position effectively lock out any accidental operation ofthe chisels and thus there is no opportunity for an accidental cut tooccur and damage the stop rods from sudden displacement of a cut-offsection of stone.

It will be appreciated that in some types of cutting operations theblock of stone may be of a width less than the space between the stoprods 38 and 40, and a relatively narrow block of this type is denoted bythe numeral Bl, shown diagrammatically in the FIG. 13. To handle arelatively narrow block of this nature, the second pair of stop rods 34and 36 are employed as shown in FIG. 13. In this case, it will beunderstood that the stop rods 34 and 36 will be raised and lowered bythe cylinders 72 and 74 and will be controlled by a link member 86bwhich is provided with a projecting part similar to the part 100 andwhich will open and close a second circuit not shown in the drawings,but similar in all respects to the circuit as shown in FIG. 14.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be evident thatwe have provided a rugged stop mechanism which by reason of the use ofrigidly reinforced and elongated bearing surfaces is capable ofwithstanding impact forces from large masses of stone moved along theconveyor structure. A novel arrangement of parts provides for combiningthis mechanism with a guillotine machine frame with a safety lock outprovision being present.

We claim:

1. In a guillotine type machine for cutting a block of stone into slabs,said machine including a spaced apart upright side portions connected byan upper transverse beam section solidly secured therebetween, conveyormeans for advancing a block of stone along a desired path of travelextending between the side portions of the frame, and below the upperbeam section conveyor means for carrying out slabs an upright positionaway from the machine, and upper and lower sets of fluid pressureoperated cutting means vertically adjustable between the side portionsfor engaging top and bottom surfaces of the block and exerting pressureto split the block into slabs, the combination of verticallyreciprocating stop elements mounted on the said upper transverse beamsection and movable in a downward direction into the path of travel ofthe block to arrest its forward travel, gauging members detachablysupported on the reciprocating stop elements for measuring the distancebetween the top front edge of the block and a desired line of cutting,bearing means rigidly mounted on the upper transverse beam section ofthe frame for slidably guiding the vertically reciprocating stopelements, means for selectively actuatingsaid reciprocating stopelements, and said bearing means comprising spaced retaining bodiespresenting elongated bearing surfaces.

2. In a guillotine type machine for cutting a block of stone into slabs,said machine including a spaced apart upright side portions connected bya transverse beam section solidly secured therebetween, conveyor meansfor advancing a block of stone along a desired path of travel extendingbetween the side portions of the frame, and below the beam sectionconveyor means for carrying cut slabs in an upright position away fromthe machine, and upper and lower sets of fluid pressure operated cuttingmeans vertically adjustable between the side portions for engaging topand bottom surfaces of the block and exerting pressure to split theblock into slabs, the combination of vertically reciprocating stopelements movable in a downward direction into the path of travel of theblock to arrest its forward travel, gauging members detachably supportedon the reciprocating stop elements for measuring the distance betweenthe top front edge of the block and a desired line of cutting, bearingmeans rigidly mounted on the transverse beam section of the frame forslidably guiding the vertically reciprocating stop elements and meansfor selectively actuating-said reciprocating stop elements, said bearingmeans comprising a plurality of spaced tubular bodies presentingelongated bearing surfaces for absorbing impact forces transmittedthrough the gauging members.

3. A structure according to claim 2 in which the means for actuatingsaid reciprocating stop elements includes linkages pivotally supportedon the frame, respective fluid pressure operated cylinders mounted atthe upper side of the frame and connected to the linkages, andelectrical circuit means for controlling movement of the cutting meansand said cylinders for the linkages.

4. A structure according to claim 3 in which the actuating means furtherincludes electrical switch located in the path of travel of one of thelinkages for opening the electrical circuit which operates the cuttingmeans when the stop elements are in a gauging position.

5. In a machine for cutting a block of stone into slabs, said machinehaving a frame which includesspaced apart upright side portionsconnected by a transverse beam section solidly secured therebetween,conveyor means for advancing a block of stone along a desired path oftravel into a cutting station between the side portions of the frame,conveyor means for carrying cut slabs in an upright position away fromthe cutting station and upper and lower sets of fluid pressure operatedcutting means vertically adjustable between the side portions forengaging top and bottomsurfaces of the block and exerting pressure tosplit the block along a desired plane of severance, the combination ofvertically reciprocating stop elements movable into the path of travelof the block after each cut takes place and a separated slab has beencarried away from the cutting elements, bearing means solidly anchoredon the frame for slidably containing the stop elements, gauging meanssupported on the vertically reciprocating stop elements in an outwardlyprojecting position and presenting spaced stop surfaces arranged todefine a vertical plane of arresting which extends parallel with and inpredetermined spaced relation to planes of cutting of the upper andlower sets of cutting means, and said stop surfaces being operative toreceive and transmit impact forces of an arrested block in a directionsubstantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the stopmembers against the said bearing means.

6. in a machine for cutting a block of mineral, said machine includingspaced vertical upright side portions having a transverse beam sectionsolidly secured therebetween, conveyor means for advancing the block ofmineral along a desired path of travel extending between the sideportions of the frame and below the beam section, and upper and lowersets of fluid pressure operated cutting means vertically adjustablebetween the side portions for engaging top and bottom sides of the blockand exerting pressure to split the block along a required plane ofseverance, a spring loaded wedge assembly mounted in the frame forwardlyof the upper set of cutting means for selectively adjusting individualcutting elements of the said upper set to conform to the contour of theupper surface of the block, the combination of reciprocating stopelements movable in a downward direction into the path of travel of theblock of mineral to arrest its forward travel, gauging membersdetachably supported on the reciprocating stop elements for measuringthe distance between the top front edge of the block and a desired lineof cutting, bearing means consisting of tubular retaining bodies rigidlymounted on the transverse section of the frame below the said springloaded wedge assembly for slidably guiding the vertically reciprocatingstop elements, and means for selectively actuating said reciprocatingstop elements, said means consisting in hydraulically actuated cylindersand electrical circuit means for operating the hydraulically actuatedcylinders.

1. In a guillotine type machine for cutting a block of stone into slabs,said machine including a spaced apart upright side portions connected byan upper transverse beam section solidly secured therebetween, conveyormeans for advancing a block of stone along a desired path of travelextending between the side portions of the frame, and below the upperbeam section conveyor means for carrying cut slabs an upright positionaway from the machine, and upper and lower sets of fluid pressureoperated cutting means vertically adjuStable between the side portionsfor engaging top and bottom surfaces of the block and exerting pressureto split the block into slabs, the combination of verticallyreciprocating stop elements mounted on the said upper transverse beamsection and movable in a downward direction into the path of travel ofthe block to arrest its forward travel, gauging members detachablysupported on the reciprocating stop elements for measuring the distancebetween the top front edge of the block and a desired line of cutting,bearing means rigidly mounted on the upper transverse beam section ofthe frame for slidably guiding the vertically reciprocating stopelements, means for selectively actuating said reciprocating stopelements, and said bearing means comprising spaced retaining bodiespresenting elongated bearing surfaces.
 2. In a guillotine type machinefor cutting a block of stone into slabs, said machine including a spacedapart upright side portions connected by a transverse beam sectionsolidly secured therebetween, conveyor means for advancing a block ofstone along a desired path of travel extending between the side portionsof the frame, and below the beam section conveyor means for carrying cutslabs in an upright position away from the machine, and upper and lowersets of fluid pressure operated cutting means vertically adjustablebetween the side portions for engaging top and bottom surfaces of theblock and exerting pressure to split the block into slabs, thecombination of vertically reciprocating stop elements movable in adownward direction into the path of travel of the block to arrest itsforward travel, gauging members detachably supported on thereciprocating stop elements for measuring the distance between the topfront edge of the block and a desired line of cutting, bearing meansrigidly mounted on the transverse beam section of the frame for slidablyguiding the vertically reciprocating stop elements and means forselectively actuating said reciprocating stop elements, said bearingmeans comprising a plurality of spaced tubular bodies presentingelongated bearing surfaces for absorbing impact forces transmittedthrough the gauging members.
 3. A structure according to claim 2 inwhich the means for actuating said reciprocating stop elements includeslinkages pivotally supported on the frame, respective fluid pressureoperated cylinders mounted at the upper side of the frame and connectedto the linkages, and electrical circuit means for controlling movementof the cutting means and said cylinders for the linkages.
 4. A structureaccording to claim 3 in which the actuating means further includeselectrical switch located in the path of travel of one of the linkagesfor opening the electrical circuit which operates the cutting means whenthe stop elements are in a gauging position.
 5. In a machine for cuttinga block of stone into slabs, said machine having a frame which includesspaced apart upright side portions connected by a transverse beamsection solidly secured therebetween, conveyor means for advancing ablock of stone along a desired path of travel into a cutting stationbetween the side portions of the frame, conveyor means for carrying cutslabs in an upright position away from the cutting station and upper andlower sets of fluid pressure operated cutting means verticallyadjustable between the side portions for engaging top and bottomsurfaces of the block and exerting pressure to split the block along adesired plane of severance, the combination of vertically reciprocatingstop elements movable into the path of travel of the block after eachcut takes place and a separated slab has been carried away from thecutting elements, bearing means solidly anchored on the frame forslidably containing the stop elements, gauging means supported on thevertically reciprocating stop elements in an outwardly projectingposition and presenting spaced stop surfaces arranged to define avertical plane of arresting which extends parallel with and inpredetermined spaced relatIon to planes of cutting of the upper andlower sets of cutting means, and said stop surfaces being operative toreceive and transmit impact forces of an arrested block in a directionsubstantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the stopmembers against the said bearing means.
 6. In a machine for cutting ablock of mineral, said machine including spaced vertical upright sideportions having a transverse beam section solidly secured therebetween,conveyor means for advancing the block of mineral along a desired pathof travel extending between the side portions of the frame and below thebeam section, and upper and lower sets of fluid pressure operatedcutting means vertically adjustable between the side portions forengaging top and bottom sides of the block and exerting pressure tosplit the block along a required plane of severance, a spring loadedwedge assembly mounted in the frame forwardly of the upper set ofcutting means for selectively adjusting individual cutting elements ofthe said upper set to conform to the contour of the upper surface of theblock, the combination of reciprocating stop elements movable in adownward direction into the path of travel of the block of mineral toarrest its forward travel, gauging members detachably supported on thereciprocating stop elements for measuring the distance between the topfront edge of the block and a desired line of cutting, bearing meansconsisting of tubular retaining bodies rigidly mounted on the transversesection of the frame below the said spring loaded wedge assembly forslidably guiding the vertically reciprocating stop elements, and meansfor selectively actuating said reciprocating stop elements, said meansconsisting in hydraulically actuated cylinders and electrical circuitmeans for operating the hydraulically actuated cylinders.